Battery-separator slicing machine



July 9, 1929. w. J. REHRIG 1.720.093

BATTERY SEPARATOR SLICING MACHINE Filed Aug. 27, 1926 3 Sheets-$heet l INVENTOR.

mZZz'am 1736571} ATTORNEYS W. J. REHRIG BATTERY SEPARATOR SLICING MACHINE July 9, 1929.

Filed Aug. 27, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvsuron. m'Z/zam Jilehrz' J nzmwsy.

July 9, 1929. w. J. REHI RIG BATTERY SEPARATOR SLICING MACHINE Filed Aug. 27, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet R m n m miliamffiehri wk ATTORNEY.

Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,720,093 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. REHRIG, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ELI P. FAY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

IBATTERY-SEPARATOB SLICING MACHINE.

Application filed August 27, 1926. Serial No. 131,905.

My invention relates to improvements in slicing machines the primary object being to provide simple and effective mechanism for cutting wood or other material into thin slices of even thickness suitable for use in making blanks for storage battery separators and other uses. The primary object is to provide a machine of the class stated which is capable of producing slices suitable for making storage battery separators in large quantity and in an efficient, effective and continuous manner, whereby the machine may be operated without interruption. Among further objects is the production of a machine of the kind stated which will produce battery separator blanks and slices capable of other uses at less expense than heretofore.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Fig. l is a plan of a detail showing the construction of my improvement three of the block holding elements being shown, it being understood that any number of such elements may be employed in conjunction with the cutting element and that the view is partly diagrammatic because of the large size of the complcte machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the block holding elements and a portion of the cutting element, portions thereof being broken away and in section and the block holding element being shown in receded position; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 2, except that the block holding element is in partly advanced position; Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of a detail taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a plan of the table element used in the block holding element, and shown in Fig. 4.

One form of my invention includes a revoluble' cutting element A, resembling a bull wheel 10, having acircular cutting blade 11 mounted thereon. This blade has a smooth peripheral cutting edge 12, and said wheel is journaled at or near its center on the frame 8 in position so that the blade revolves concentrically in a horizontal plane. The bull wheel as shown is driven at medium speed by any suitable means, that shown being a prime mover such as the motor B, which transmits its power through belt and pulley means 13 to the wheel and by shafts 14 and 15, pairs of pinions and gears 16 and 17 and 18 and 19, and vertical shaft 20, all

of which are mounted onframe 8. The blade 11 as shown is in segments secured to a horizontal circular holder 21 by screws 22 or other fastening means and the holder is secured by bolts 24 to brackets 23, said brackets being fastened by bolts 25 on the peripheral surface of the rim of the bull wheel. The outer edge of the blade is sharpened with the bevel thereof 26 facing downwardly. The blade revolves about a fixed vertical axis and the cutting edge runs truly and evenly thus contributing favorably to heavy production work. Supporting rollers 9 are journaled in the frame 8 and suitably disposed to support the wheel and cause the rim to run truly as the wheel revolves.

Assembled around this bull wheel are a plurality of holding elements D for the blocks C of wood or other suitable material from which the slices or blanks 27 are cut by the cutting element. These block holding elements are preferably although not necessarily arranged at substantially even regularity about the wheel and are alike in construction. A description of one will there fore suflice. Each holding element resembles a receptacle 28 open at top and bottom and of suitable shape and dimensions to receive and hold the blocks C freely so that they will feed downwardly under the action of a presser foot 29 against a horizontal table 30 in juxtaposition to the cutting edge of the cutting blade 11 and so that when the holder 28 is reciprocated inwardly and outwardly the blocks C are sliced by the cutter. The holders D, assembled around the circular cutter are reciprocated inwardly and outwardly successively so as to distribute the work performed by the cutter evenly around the wheel.

The holder 28 is provided with a bracket support 31, which is secured to a raised portion of slide 32 by bolts 33 said slide being gibbed and reciprocable on main frame 34. The means for reciprocating the slide 32 as shown consists of a prime mover 35 which transmits power to the vertical drive shaft 36 through the drive belt 37 and ordinary worm reduction gearing 38 for reducing and transmitting motion. This drive shaft 36 is journaled at 40 in part of the main frame 34 and carries the crank arm 41 which in turn is connected to reciprocate the slide 32 by the pitman 42. As the block holder 28 is reciprocated the blocks C are sliced by the The blocks C are held down in the holder 28 against the table 30 by the presser foot 29 which follows the blocks down evenly as they are sliced. This presser foot has a stem 4:9 which slides vertically in a support 50, said supportbeing bolted to follower 52 and an expansion spring 51 being employed to urge the presser foot down against the blocks. The follower 52 is free but guided to travel vertically in the block holder 28 and is threaded on a vertical. shaft 58 which is journaled at its upper and lower ends on the holder 28 and bracket support 31. The shaft is revolved step by step by pawl and ratchet mechanism 5a which is driven b y the connecting rod 55 and by the lever arm 56 engaging adjustable movable spring stop 57 as the slide 82 reciprocates outwardly from the blade. The reciprocation of the holder 28 and its slide 32 therefore causes the lever arm 56 to actuate the ratchet and the feed shaft 53 a suitable portion of a revolution each troke corresponding with the thickness of a slice 27, thereby keeping the pressure against the top of the blocks C substantially uniform throughout the operation of the machine. Initial pres sure of the presser footis established by turning the shaft 53 by the hand wheel 58, this pressure being kept constant by the force exerted by the follower 52. The stop 57 is slidably supported in bracket 59 and is urged forwardly by spring (30. Should the follower urge more than a predetermined downward pressure upon the blocks the lever arm 56 strikes the stop 57, depressing the safety spring 60 and thereby relieves the spring from further action until the pressure of spring 51 is released to initial predetermined pressure, whereupon the feed again resumes functioning during the following strokes.

To place the blocks C in the holder 28 the presser foot mechanism is raised to its upper limit by turning the shaft 53 by hand and slipping the blOCliS in from one side. A hand operated trip 61 is adapted to disengage the pawl of the ratchet mechanism allowing the reverse turning of shaft 53, thereby causing the follower to travel upwardly.

When the follower 52 reaches the lowes" prescribed point in its travel during the operation of the machine, it strikes and releases the catch 62, which action causes the drive mechanism to release and the reciprocating mechanism stop. Normally during the operation of the reciprocating mecha nism the catch 62 engages and holds the dog 63 raised as shown in F 2 and 3 out of the path of striking a swii ging arm 6% on the verticalshaft 65. This shaft journaledon the upper and lower end of bracket 59 on the side of the main frame 3 land carries on its lower end a crank arm 67 which in turn is coupled by connecting rod 68, and crank arm with a vertical shaft 70, which also is journaled on the side of the main frame. The prime mover 35 connected drive the main drive shaft 39 by pulleys 71 and 72, loose belt 37 and belt t itening pulley 74, the latter being arranged to move up and down to tighten and lot n the belt and thereby cause the application or release of the driving power. The tightening pulley is journaled on the wort: en l of a foot operated lever 75, which iulciuined at 76 on the frame. By press i down upon the foot lever the belt is tightened and the machine thus thrown into operation. The machine continues to operate until tripped by releasing catch 62,

whereupon. he shafts 65 and are actu ated, 65113111911 trip lever 77 on the lower end of shaft- 70 to engage one end of a quadrant lever 78 which is fulcrumed at 79 on the main frame thus swinging the quadrant lever and causing teeth 80 on one portion thereof to disengage a pawl 81 and allowing belt tightening p illey 7a to release the belt. Simultaneous with this operation a brake shoe 82 is thrust against a brake drum 83. which is integral with the driven pulley 72. This releasing action transpires at the extreme end of an outward portion of a stroke, stopping said block holder when the locks are clear of the cutting blade. The

quadrant 78 can also be actuated to sto the machine at any portion of a stroke by depressing foot pedal 8%. The quadrant teeth 80 are releasably held engaged with pawl Si by a spring 85.

The main frame of the machine justed vertically to cause the block 0 ,t to clear the cutting blade by means of ad justing screw 86, said frame being mounted upon and held in place on a sub-frame 87 by set bolts 88 in slotted holes 89 in the main frame.

-The sub-frame is adjustable horizontally towards and away from the cutting lade by means of adjusting screws 90 in bracket 91, said sub-frame being slidable on a base 92. which in turn 1" "ed on the 5 re in support which carries the cutter.

.The table 30 is situated below and normally forms the floor of the block holder and upon which the blocks rest. This-table is adjustable vertically, being pivoted at 99 on is ada slide 100 which is movably supported in a guide 93. The guide is adj ustably supported in a vertical plane radiating from the cutting blade by means of bolts 101 and 11% so that the block supporting surface of the table may be adjusted to bring the forward and back ends of the table into a horizontal plane parallel with the plane of the cutting edge of the blace.

The table 30 is further adjustable in a vertical tangential plane of the cutting edge of the blade, more clearly shown in Fig. so that the table will lie in a plane parallel with that of the cut-ting edge of the blade. This adjustment is caused by tilting the table on its swivel 99 by means or adjusting screws 95?- and 96 passing through lug 9 1 in slide 100.

A vertical adjustment of the table for leg ulating thickness of the blanks to be cut is produced by means of the regulating screws 97 and 98, which raise and lower the slide 100.

All of the above adjustments are adapted to produce blanks of any desired uniform thickness. Each adjustmentcan be made and changed independently of the others, which is a distinct advantage in the practi-. cability' of the machine.

The table is constructed with a plurality of slots 103 through which relief fingers 104 reciprocate vertically in synchronism with the operation of the machine. During the forward stroke of the block holder the fingers assume a position below the upper surface of the table 30 and durin the backward stroke of the block holder the fingers assume superior position on a level with the knife edge above the table to carry the blocks and keep them from resting upon and dulling the edge of the knife blade. During the forward stroke, the table defines the thickness and uniformity of the slices cut by the cutter. The reciprocation of the fingers as above described is accomplished by constructing them integral with aslide 105 and by mounting the slide in a guide 106 on the main frame. The guide has a bevel 107 which rides upon cam 108, said cam being actuated by push rod 109 which in turn is reciprocated by a cam 110 carried upon the main drive shaft 86. This cam mechanism is timed to cause the fingers to rise and lower at suitable points of the stroke.

T he block holding units of mechanism as sembled at suitable points around the cutting blade are adapted to operate independently, each having its own prime mover while the blade revolves continuously. To avoid any delay due to dulling the blade by the large number of cooperating block holding units employed. a sharpening device E is placed adjoining the blade in position so that its abrading wheel 112 may be adjusted to sharpen the cutting edge while the entire machine is in operation and slicing the blocks. The sharpening device may be of any usual construction, that shown being a motor driven universally adjustable grinding tool.

In. accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A battery separator blank slicer, comprising, in combination, a rcvoluble cutting blade in a horizontal plane, aconveyor travcling with said blade adapted to receive the blanks in series formation from said blade, a block holder adapted to hold blocks of battery separator material in juxtaposition to the cutting edge of said blade, means for reciprocating said holder to cause said blade to slice the lower portion of the blocks held thereby, means for supporting and relieving the weight of the block material in the holder after cutting without raising the block material, and means for tilting said holder in a plane intersecting a plane radiating from the cutting blade to adjust the angle of cutting and thickness of the sides of the blanks sliced from the blocks.

2. A battery separator blank slicer, comprising, incombination, a revoluble cutting blade, a conveyor traveling with said blade adapted to receive the blanks in series formation from said blade, a block holder adapted to hold blocks of battery separator material in juxtaposition to the cu edge of said blade, means for recipro'ating said holder to cause the blade to slice the lower portion of the block material held thereby, and fingers adapted to support and relieve the weight of the block material in the holder from the cutting blade during each return movement of the holder after cutting without raising the block material and to lower the block material at the end of each return movement in readiness for a subsequent slicing operation.

3. A battery separator blank slicer, comprising. in combination, a horizontal circular blade of comparatively large diameter, means for holding a block of battery separator material in uxtaposition to said blade, means for reciprocating said holder to cause said blade to slice said material, fingers upon which said material is adapted to slide after each. cutting operation to relieve the weight of said material from the blade, said fingers being movable downwardly at the end of the return movement of said material to permit the material being sliced during a subsequent forward movement, means for adjusting the parts to regulate. the thickness of the slice cut from said material, and means for actuating said fingers.

l. A slicer for producing battery separator blan rs, comprising, in combination, a revoluble blade having a cutting edge, a conveyor traveling with said blade adapted to receive blanks from the blade in series for mation, means for delivering said blanks from said conveyor, a plurality of block holders distributed around said blade, said holders being open at the top and bottom and adapted to receive blocks and hold them in juxtaposition to the cutting edge of said blade and feeding downwardly, said holders being movable inwardly and outwardly to cause the blade to cut slices from the lower portions of said blocks, means for actuating said holders to move them in ardly and outwardly, and a prosser foot in the holders adapted to urge the blocks down during the slicing operation and means for feeding the presser foot to evenly urge the blocks down as the slicing operation continues.

5. A slicer for producing battery sepa rator blanks, comprising, in combination, a revoluble blade having a cut ing edge, a plurality ofblock holders distributed around said blade, said holders being open at the top and bottom and adapted to receive blocks and hold them in juxtaposition to the cutting edge of said blade and feeding downwardly, said holders being movable inwardly and outwardly to caus the blade to cut slice from the lower portions of said blocks, means for actuating said holders to move them inwardly and outwardly, a presser foot urging the blocks down during th slicing operation and means for stepping said prosser foot downwardly during the succession of slicing operations to continue substantially the same dmvnward pressure upon the blocks.

6. A slicer for producing battery separator blanks, comprising, in combination, means for out i g slices of material, means for holding said material in juxtaposition to said cutting means and reciprocable to cause the cutting means to cut slices from said material, means for reciprocating said holding means, adjustable means for supporting said material in the holding means to regulate the thickness of the slice cut by the cutting means during each forward movement of the holder, means for support-- ing said material to relieve the weight of said material from the cutting means during each return movement of the holder and for lowering said material into posit-ion for cutting a new slice, a traveling shelf below said cutting means and adapted to receive slices from the cutting means in series format-ion and means for delivering said series of slices from said shelf.

7 A slicer for producing separator blanks for batteries, com arising, in combination, a cutting element, means open at the top and bottom adapted to hold blocks in juxtaposition to said cutting element and reciprocable to cause the cutting element to cut sl ces from the lower portions of said blocks, means for reciprocating said holding means, adjustable means for supporting said blocks in said holding means adapted to regulate the thickness of the slices cut by the cutting element, means for supporting said block material to relieve the weight of the blocks from the cut-ting elementduring each return movement of the holding means and for lowering said material into position for cutting a new slice, a traveling shelf below said cutting means and adapted to receive slices from the cutting means in series formation and means for deliverr aid series of slices from said shelf.

8. A slicer for producing battery separator blanks, omprising, in combination, a circular element for cutting slices, a circular shelf below and traveling with said cutting element upon which the slices as out are caught, a deflector co-operating with said shelf for directing'the slices outwardly, a carrier ere tending away from the circular element upon wiiich the slices are delivered, means for holding blocks in uxtaposition to the cutting edge of said circular element and recipio cable radially as regards said cutting element to cause the circular element to cut slices from the blocks, means for reciprocating said holding means, and means adapted to feed downwardly uniformly during the operation of the machineand to hold the block material lirmly in the holding means during the cutting by the circular element.

9. A slicer for producing battery separator blanks, comprising, in combina ion, a revoluble blade having a cutting edge. a pluality of block holders distributed around said blade, said holders being open at the top and bottom and adapted to receive blocks and hold them in juxtaposition to the cutting edge of said blade, said holders being movable inwardly and outwardly to cause the blade to cut slices from the lower portions of said blocks, means for actuating said holders to move them inwardly and outwardly, and means feeding downwardly uniformly during the operation of the machine for pressing the block material down evenly as said material is sliced.

10. A slicer for producing battery sepa rator blanks, comprising, in combination, a circular revoluble blade having a peripheral cutting edge, a plurality of block holders distributed around said blade, said holders being openat the top and bottom and adapted to receive blocks in juxtaposition to the cutting edge of said blade and feeding downwardly, said holders being movable inwardly and outwardly to cause the blade to cut slices from the lower portions of said blocks, means for actuating said holders to move them inwardly and outwardly, means for supporting said blocks during the forward stroke of the holders to define the thickness of the slices cut by said blade, means for sustaining the blocks during their return movement and lowering them upon said supporting means, a shelf movable with said blade and upon which said slices are deposited as they are cut, and means for delivering said slices from said shelf.

11. A battery separator blank slicer, comprising, in combination, a circular smooth cutting edge blade. a cluster of block holders distributed around said blade, each holder having means for holding a block of battery separator material in juxtaposition to the cutting edge of said blade, means for reciprocating each of said holders to cause the blade to slice the lower portion of the block held thereby, means for starting and stopping the reciprocation of said holder, means for sustaining the block material during its return movement and lowering it upon said holding means, a shelf movable with said blade and upon which said slices are deposited as they are cut, and means for delivering said slices from said shelf.

12. A battery separator blank slicer, comprising, in combination, a. revoluble smooth cutting edge blade, means for moving blocks of separator material against said cutting edge to shear slices from said blocks, means for supporting the block material during its forward stroke to define the thickness of the slice sheared by the blade, means for sustaining the block material during its return stroke and lowering it at the end of said return stroke upon said supporting means, a shelf movable with said blade and upon which said blade, means for intercepting the slices on said shelf and delivering them therefrom.

13. A slicer for producing battery separator blanks, comprising, in combination, a revoluble blade having a cutting edge, a conveyor traveling. with said blade adapted to receive the blanks in series formation from said blade, a block holder open at top and bottom and adapted to receive and hold slices are deposited from saidblocks in juxtaposition to said cutting edge, said holder being movable inwardly and outwardly to cause the blade to cut slices from a portion of the block material, means for actuating said holder to move the same inwardly and outwardly, a presser foot urging the blocks down during the slicing operation, means for stepping said presser foot downwardly during the successive slicing opera tions and means operating automatically for stopping the reciprocation of the holder at the outer portion of its stroke when the feed reaches lowermost position and the block material is substantially fully sliced.

14. A slicer for producing battery separator blanks, comprising, in combination, a revoluble blade having a cutting edge, a holder adapted to receive and hold blocks in juxtaposition to said cutting edge, said holder being movable inwardly and outwardly to cause the blade to cut slices from a portion of the block material, and means for automatically stopping the reciprocation of said holder at the extreme outer portion of its stroke when the block material is free from contact with the cutting edge of the blade.

15. A slicer for producing battery separator blanks, comprising, in combination, a revoluble cutting blade, a plurality of reciprocable block holding elements adjacent to and adapted to cause said blade to cut a series of blanks from said material, a shelf below and traveling with said cutting blade and adapted to receive said blanks in series formation and means for delivering said series of blanks from said shelf.

16. A slicer for producing battery sepa rator blanks, comprising, in combination, a circular segmental revoluble cutting blade, a plurality of reciprocable block holding elements adjacent to and adapted to cause said blade to cut a series of blanks from material held by said holding elements, a shelf below and traveling with said cutting blade and adapted to receive said blanks in series formation, a guard adjacent to said shelf for holding the blanks on said shelf, and means for delivering said series of blanks from said shelf.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM J. REHRIG. 

